Author: Square Peg

Match Report: Mickleover Vets 6 – 0 West Bridgford Vets

by Gavin Warren

Sporting Evenings Charity League – Sunday Fixture

Mickleover Vets hosted West Bridgford Vets on Sunday in the Sporting Evenings Charity League. With this being our fourth game in a row, we made ten changes to the squad — partly to rest players, but mainly to give others some much-needed game time.

Team Line-Up:
Batten came in between the sticks and commanded his area brilliantly — solid performance and calm when called upon. Lloyd made his debut in Mickleover colours, partnering Stamp at centre-back, and looked steady throughout. Kris and Alton started at full-back, while Jay made his first start after injury, joining Don in the defensive midfield roles. Lillie pushed further forward in a more attacking midfield role, with the front three of Mannion, Whitto, and Ridgeway leading the line.

First Half

It took us a little while to settle, with a few misplaced passes and rushed moments — not surprising given many of the starting XI hadn’t played together before. Patience was key.

After some near misses and good saves from their keeper, we finally broke the deadlock:
Lillie picked the ball up down the right, cut inside with some sharp footwork, and smashed home a fantastic strike — no chance for the keeper. 1–0.

We kept the pressure on, and Lillie was involved again — threading a through ball to Mannion, who timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and slotted it bottom corner. 2–0.

Our third came from a corner. Lillie’s initial delivery was cleared, but he recovered it quickly and whipped a brilliant cross back in from the right, finding Stamp, who tapped it home. 3–0 halftime.

Second Half

Three changes at the break: Lillie came off after a top first-half shift, joined by Mannion and Don, making way for Danwell, Sav, and Diksa.

Credit to West Bridgford — they came out fighting. They hit the bar and forced Batten into a big one-on-one save to keep our clean sheet intact.

Whitto, making his first start, was a handful all game — strong runs, great hold-up play — and got his reward with a cracking strike to make it 4–0.

Ridgeway was then replaced by the Gaffer, making his long-awaited return to the pitch after putting the lads before himself for so long — what a man!

Whitto wasn’t done yet — using his strength to shrug off a defender before firing home his second of the match. 5–0.Great to see him getting his fitness and sharpness back after a long spell out.

And finally — the moment the crowd was waiting for. The Gaffer pressed hard, forced a defensive mistake, pounced on the loose ball, and smashed his shot past the keeper’s right-hand post. 6–0. The crowd went mad — “They think it’s all over… it is now!”

Full-Time: Mickleover Vets 6–0 West Bridgford Vets

Goals:

Lillie ⚽️
Mannion ⚽️
Stamp ⚽️
Whitto ⚽️⚽️
Gaffer ⚽️
Man of the Match:
Lillie – good solid team performance but Lillie Took his goal brilliantly and added a couple of key assists.

Another solid performance, another clean sheet — well done lads!

Also not going to go into great detail but a big mention to jones and Weston for today and Diksa for coming in last minute to cover and salter for coming along to support and warm up batten great squad players.

Also thanks newts I know you could of stayed at home feeling unwell but dragged yourself to help me so much appreciated.

Sports Sign Barnsley Teenager On Loan

by Peter Scherer

Barnsley’s teenaged central midfielder Stanley Holder has come to the Don Amott Arena initially on a months loan.

A former Everton junior, he had been AFC Fylde’s Under 18’s captain until moving to Oakwell at the start of this season.

He came on as a late sub for Mickleover in last weekends win at St Neots.

White Free Kick Snatches All 3 Points

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Mickleover extended their unbeaten run to five games, with an injury time free kick from Archie White making it decisive.

Starting line up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Archie White 3-Louis Bonser 4-Jake Bennett 5-Ashton Offler 6-George Wilkinson 7-Will Atkinson 8-Ali Mohiuddin 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Andy Dales 11-Thabang Dube. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Paddy Webb. Danny Benson, Stanley Holder, Liam Carter.

It was a fairly lively start from both sides trying to gain the upperhand. Mickleover had their first real chance when Dales cut in from the left after 10 minutes, sending a curling ball towards the far post. Keeper Goff made a save, before White followed up with a rebound shot just wide.

But four minutes later Bosworth made a low save as our hosts had their first shot on target.

Sports had penalty appeals waved away in the 24th minute, when Dube went down in the box after cutting in from the right.

As Mickleover continued to push forward with plenty of creativity from the midfield, Dyer fired in the opening goal on the half hour, a powerful strike in the bottom corner, with keeper Goff well beaten. 1-0.

The rest of the half was fairly even until half time approached. White had created enough space to fire the ball into the middle, where Dyer went so close to hitting his and Mickleover’s second.

There were no immediate changes for the second half, but after Dube had outpaced the defence on the right five minutes into the restart, his following shot went just wide of the near post.
Stainsby levelled for St. Neots three minutes later, but on the hour Mickleover made their first change, with Benson back from injury replacing Dube, followed by Webb on for Dyer seven minutes later.

Our hosts had a few opportunities, but Sports defence held tight, as chances went begging.
Dales led a 77th minute break to go close himself, firing his shot in from a tight angle, before debutant loanee Holder came on for Mohiuddin.

Dales glanced the bar with an 86th minute free kick, before the referee indicated five minutes of added time. The time proved decisive for Mickleover, when White scored from a free kick as the final whistle was poised. 2-1.

Sports On The Road: St. Neots Town (A) Preview

by Peter Scherer

It’s our furthest trip of the season tis Saturday, when we visit St.Neots Town, the reigning United Counties League Premier Division South Champions.

With four matches unbeaten after Saturday’s 2-2 draw, we now lie 11th in the table, one point ahead of our hosts, but with a game in hand.

Danny Benson is still fighting to get fit to rejoin the Mickleover squad, but with a weeks break everyone else should to be fit and raring to extend our run.

Our hosts lost 0-1 at home to Lichfield City last Saturday, their third defeat I the last five games.

Manager Cameron Mawer has been in charge at St.Neots since May 2023. A former defender in his playing days, he was a junior at Watford and Peterborough Utd and also played for Grays, Weymouth, Arlesey Town, Biggleswade and Boreham Wood. He then became assistant manager at Hendon and Boreham Wood and had run Academies at Kempston Rovers and Wealdstone.

Goalkeeper James Goff started out at Northampton Town. He was loaned to Banbury before joining Wisbech on his release. After a two year stay he moved on to Spalding Utd and Lincoln Utd, before joining our hosts in July 2023 from St.Ives Town.

Centre back Murphy Culkin was signed from Biggleswade Town in December 2023. St.Ives, Redditch, Barton Rovers and Biggleswade Utd are among his former teams.

Fellow centre back and captain Robbie Parker started out at Bedford Town, before moving onto Biggleswade Town and St.Ives. He came to our hosts towards the end of last season after a three- year spell back at Biggleswade.

Eniola Agamah-Davies is a right back who started out at Cambridge City. He has since played for Rushden & Diamonds and Wellingborough and started this year at Real Bedford, from where he joined our hosts last month.

Central midfielder Connor Furlong was an MK Dons junior. He was loaned to Oxford City and Aylesbury Utd, before going to Bedford Town on his release. St.Ives, Barton Rovers, Biggleswade, Rushden & Diamonds, Royston Town, a return trip to Bedford then Nuneaton followed, before coming to St.Neots in October 2023 from Daventry Town.

Charlie Bowen is a centre back, who has spent the last few seasons with our hosts. He had a long spell at Godmanchester Rovers too, with a 16 month break at Newmarket in between.

Defender Harvey Henderson was another pre-season signing, having come from March Town.

Sammy Willis is a midfielder signed from Biggleswade in May 2024. He has also played for Potton Utd.

Fellow midfielder Andrian Ankrah came from Daventry Town in pre-season. he’s played for Long Buckby too.

Michael Amaeshike is another midfielder, signed at the beginning of last season from Leighton Town. He’s also played for Old Bradwell Utd and Cranfield Utd.

Midfielder Kieran Barnes arrived at the start of last season too. He famously scored Newport Pagnell Town’s opening goal in their FA Vase win over Littlehampton at Wembley.

Pharrell Anderson plays striker or midfield and came from Biggleswade Town last month. He’s also played for Cambridge City, Histon and Rushden & Diamonds.

Striker Rhys Thorpe arrived from Eynesbury Rovers in November 2023 and was last seasons top scorer.

Winger Harvey Williams was a fringe squad player over the last two seasons, but has become a regular starter and scorer this term.

James Stainsby was a prolific scorer in St.Neots Under 18 side and returned to hosts last month from Deeping Rangers.

Remell Stirling is a striker too. Among his previous teams are Dunstable Town, Baldock, Stotfold, Kempston Rovers, Oxley Jets and Virginia Water.

Jessi Obeng, Josh Francis, Chris Tavernier and Brandon Jessop have also been regular squad members of late.

Kick off at the Premier Plus Stadium is 3pm.

Match Report: Derby County B (Mickleover Academy) 3 – 1 Birmingham City

by Gareth Holmes, Mickleover FC First Team Manager

Venue: Don Amott Arena
Date: 22nd October 2025

Derby County B (Mickleover Academy) delivered a composed and professional performance to secure a 3–1 victory over Birmingham City at the Don Amott Arena. From the outset, Derby impressed with their work ethic off the ball, pressing intelligently and defending as a cohesive unit.

Their discipline limited Birmingham to sporadic counter-attacks, while Derby gradually took control of the game. On the ball, Malpass and Rahman were constant threats, driving forward with purpose and creativity. Derby also looked dangerous from set pieces, with two headers narrowly missing the target following excellent deliveries into the box.

The breakthrough came just before half-time after some slick play down the left flank. Rahman whipped in a precise cross to the far post, where Malpass rose to head home and give Derby a deserved lead.

At the interval, the message was clear: maintain the intensity off the ball and increase the tempo in the build-up. Derby responded well, moving the ball more fluidly through the thirds and asserting further control.

Their second goal came from a corner, with Bainbridge reacting quickest to a loose ball and finishing clinically from close range. Birmingham continued to pose a threat on the break, but Derby’s defensive shape held firm.

The game was effectively sealed in the 75th minute when Malpass broke free and coolly lobbed the goalkeeper to make it 3–0. Birmingham managed a consolation goal with the final kick of the game, but it did little to dampen what was another encouraging display from the young Derby County B side.

Anyone wanting to join the Derby County Community Trust programme at Mickleover or make enquiries, can contact on community@dcct.co.uk

Second Half Fightback Earns Sports A Point

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover dug deep in an outstanding second half comeback, to earn a home point in a 2-2 draw against former table toppers Rugby Borough.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Louis Bonser 4-George Wilkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-Ashton Offler 7-Ali Mohiuddin 8-Wil Atkinson 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Archie White. Subs: Michael Holingsworth, Paddy Webb, Harry Wood, Josiah Dyer, Thabang Dube.

Rugby were first try their luck on goal, with a shot well over the bar in the opening minute. It was fairly even opening 10 minutes, with Dales tending to look for any breaks for Mickleover.

Most of the play became settled around the middle of the pitch, with an excess of passing back and forth without any real progress.

White had a shot after 24 minutes from distance, which was the first shot of the game for Sports and it came after a positive few minutes of possession.

Bosworth was called into action three minutes later though, when a Wilkinson clearance rebounded back, forcing a dive to the keepers right.

Dales outstripped the visitors defence on the left on the half hour, but no one had managed to break with him and shortly afterwards another Dales run almost found Wood, but the through ball was just too long.

Rugby tried another shot after 34 minutes, but with no pace on it, it failed to trouble Bosworth.

The home defence had looked solid and well drilled under Gascoigne’s guidance until a 38th minute disaster. Under no real pressure Offler went to push the ball back to Bosworth, but the keeper had already come of his line, and the ball agonisingly rolled over the line and into the net, 0-1.

With two minutes left on the clock Rugby won a corner on the right. It was taken short and found Cristofaro on the edge of the box, one touch and he fired home their second, making it 0-2 at half time.

Mickleover made three changes for the second half, with Hollingsworth, Dyer and Webb on for Beavon, White and Atkinson.

Two minutes in and Bosworth made another save, but although a more open game than the frustrating first half, it was still a very even game.

On the hour Rugby had the ball in the net again, but were ruled offside, but for Mickleover the introduction of Dyer and Webb was certainly causing more issues for the visiting defence, which also allowed Bennett and Bonser more freedom on the wings.

64 minutes and Webb had an effort blocked, Bennett then created space. He could have shot, but set up Webb, but his shot was just wide f the right-hand post.

Rugby were now relying on breaks rather than a composed build-up, but tested Bosworth again from the edge of the box after 65 minutes.

Dube then replaced Offler and Wood came on for Mohiuddin.

The pressure had begun to build from Mickleover and after 69 minutes they got their reward. Bonser crossed from the left, rather than trying a shot himself, he found Webb, who tapped it into Dyer’s path to hit home 1-2.

Rugby came straight back with a dangerous shot from outside the box, Bosworth had it covered though as it skimmed just wide of his left-hand post.

Only four minutes after our first goal, Sports were back level. Bosworth had made a long clearance, Webb layed it off for Dales who couldn’t get a shot in. It was then pushed out to the right wing, where Dube sent in a perfect cross for Webb to head home 2-2.

Sports then had a couple of corners which failed to create any threat and Rugby wasted a free kick too, putting well wide of the target.

Dales and Bonser then worked together on the left, before the referee gave a non- existent foul. But it was Mickleover with a scent of victory that kept piling pressure on the visitors, until there was a lengthy stop after Gascoigne had a head injury.

In the final minutes Dales was hacked down on the halfway line, before Bonser broke. This time he tried a shot himself, but it was well wide f the far post.

So it was shared points at 2-2 after an impressive recovery, which in the end could easily been another victory.

 

 

Match Report: Coalville Town Vets 0 – 6 Mickleover Vets

This Sunday saw us travel to Coalville for a league fixture against another new team in the division. With little known about them, we weren’t sure what to expect.
The first half was a bit scrappy—we didn’t get the ball down and play the way we like, with too many long Hollywood balls, which became frustrating. Still, we had the better of the half, creating chances with keeper pulling off some good saves but often finding ourselves offside. Betts and Mannion caused Coalville’s defence plenty of problems with their pace, and it was Betts who opened the scoring on 18 minutes.
Bailey, Palms and Diksa controlled the midfield well, and any Coalville attacks were dealt with by our solid backline. Great to see Stamp back in the team after missing out last week. The back four were class throughout.
Our first change saw Aiden come off, Clinton going out left, and Mannion pushed further up top.
Half-time: 1-0
At the break, we told the lads to settle down, cut out the long balls, and play to our strengths.
Unfortunately, Bailey had to come off with a tight calf – a shame, as he was having a great game and running the show. Sav came on and made an immediate impact with his no-nonsense tackles, work rate, and simple, effective passing.
We kept the pressure on, and Clifton got on the end of a cross to slot home his first. Ten minutes later, a corner wasn’t cleared, and the ball fell to Clifton with his back to goal—he pulled off an overhead shot that found the bottom corner for 3-0.
Callum added a fourth, latching onto a through ball, outpacing the defence and calmly slotting past the Coalville keeper.
Alton came off the bench to replace Mannion, with Cater pushed further up. Palms then joined the scoring after beating his man to the ball and smashing a powerful strike past the keeper—no chance for him on that one. 5-0 with 20 minutes to play.
Betts was replaced by Weston on the left, and Stanley switched over to the right. Shortly after coming on, Weston fell awkwardly on his shoulder and was replaced by Mannion, who came back on. He made an immediate impact, bursting into the area and drawing a foul. Penalty given.
Palms picked up the ball but unselfishly handed it to Stanley, who stepped up and smashed the penalty into the roof of the net to complete his hat-trick and round off a 6-0 win.
A solid all-round performance from the lads today. We’re pleased with the result, the clean sheet, and, most of all, the attitude shown by every player.
Scorers:
* Betts x2
* C. Palms x1
* Stanley x3
Man of the Match: Could have gone to a number of players, but Ash Mannion gets the nod today. He didn’t get on the scoresheet, but he was a handful all game and instrumental in our attacking play.

Second Half Ends Reserves’ Lads Hopes

by Peter Scherer

After a fairly strong and much improved first half from Mickleover’s young Reserve side, four second half goals from high flyers Selston ended any hopes of ending their losing streak.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Bull 2-Hassan Ali 3-Shujah Ali 4-Joseph Moore 5-Rajan Chohin 6-Luis Mas-Hall 7-George Cunningham 8-Josh Powell 9-Efren Rolleston 10-Mo Shweikh 20-Dylan Buckley-Moore. Subs: Philip ?, Tino Makombe, Alfie Godfrey, Kacper Krawczyk, Jack Sabine.

It was clear from the start that the Selston side were bigger, stronger and more experienced. They had their first chance after eight minutes but the target man wanted too much time in front of goal, allowing the defence to recover before his shot was made.

A few minutes later a scramble in the box was cleared, as Mickleover continued to ride out the early threat and began to break out of their own half. 13 minutes in and Rolleston got away on the left, his cross found Cunningham, but the shot lacked pace and direction.

Selston then got a break after Sports lost possession in midfield, but the hard working skipper Sweikh charged back with a saving tackle.

The visitors had a random shot straight at keeper Bull after 17 minutes, but then a loose back pass in the visitors defence was intercepted by Rolleston, but the keeper had reacted quickly and managed to put the young striker off before he could get a shot in.

Shwiekh was fouled on the half way line after 21 minutes, but the free kick was wasted, before Selston had another distance shot, well wide of its target.

Good work from Rolleston on the right found Powell after 28 minutes, but his attempt to shoot was blocked, and the ball came back to Hassan Ali, and his cross was cleared.

Keeper Bull was then called into action punching away a shot from the left after 36 minutes, before pulling off a great save just two minutes later to keep it level.

Sabine came on for Sports for the last eight minutes of the first half, as Selston continued try random long shots. But Mickleover’s defence held out against the odds.

But in the final minute of normal time the visitors won a corner, it was cleared after a goal line scramble. The follow up corner caused similar issues, but this time the ball fell kindly for Selston and it was 0-1, and the half time whistle soon followed.

Our visitors started the second half strongly and forced Bull into two early saves. 54 minutes gone and Selston managed get around the back of the defence on the left, leaving a clear shot to make it 0-2.

From there it was all Selston, with the Mickleover lads heads having dropped. A third close range shot gave Bull no chance, as t became 0-3 on the hour and 0-4 just three minutes later.

Most of the subs were used by Mickleover but there was no way back and Selston rounded off their night with a fifth goal at 75 minutes, in a disappointed end following a promising start.